Microsoft apologizes for using ‘Tulalip’ as code name

Microsoft and the Tulalip tribes have settled their differences after the group of American Indians questioned the software company’s use of their name for an internal research project that mistakenly leaked last week, The Daily Herald reports.

Last week, a service called Tulalip showed up on a Microsoft-owned website, Socl.com; the tech press speculated it was some sort of social search or social networking project. The Everett newspaper on Thursday reported the Tulalip tribes were asking Microsoft questions about using their name for a product.

“We accept Microsoft’s explanation that this was an internal code name that was never intended to be used publicly,” the Tulalips said in a statement today. “We appreciate Microsoft’s swift corrective action, and we consider this matter resolved. We have a good relationship with Microsoft and expect that relationship to continue.”

Microsoft, for its part, sent the following statement:

“We respect the fact that the Tulalip Tribes have sensitivities around the use of their name and have spoken with a representative of the Tribes. This was an internal code name and Microsoft had no intention of using this project code name publically (sic). This internal code name will not be used in connection with this research project going forward. We apologize to the Tulalip Tribes for this situation.”